Rajasthan Assembly Deadlock Resolved As Cong MLAs Return After Apology

The deadlock that had stalled and affected the Rajasthan assembly for the past six days was finally resolved on Thursday evening, following the intervention of Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma. The Chief Minister played a pivotal role in ending the stand-off, prioritising the interests of the people of the state. On Thursday evening, Sharma personally reached the assembly and initiated talks with Leader of the Opposition, Tikaram Juli, in the Chief Minister’s chamber. The meeting, which also included Parliamentary Affairs Minister Jogaram Patel, resulted in positive talks and resolved the deadlock.

Subsequently, Juli informed all Congress MLAs, who then returned to the assembly. In his address, Juli acknowledged that the controversy had been sparked by a remark made by a minister regarding Indira Gandhi. He thanked the Chief Minister for facilitating the talks and admitted that Congress leader Govind Singh Dotasra’s comment was inappropriate. Juli expressed his regret and offered an apology, marking the end of the deadlock and the resumption of normal assembly proceedings.

CM Emphasises Responsibility And Restraint In Assembly

Sharma, addressing the assembly, highlighted the importance of rules and regulations within the House. He emphasised that the most important rule is restraint, as the time of the House is valuable. Referring to the recent disruption in the House, which lasted for two to three days, he explained that despite calls to adjourn the proceedings, he insisted on keeping the session ongoing. He further added that the assembly is a space where the people of Rajasthan expect their concerns to be addressed.

The Chief Minister acknowledged that sometimes comments are made in the heat of the moment, and while many can tolerate such remarks, others might not. He stressed that with position comes the responsibility to manage one’s behaviour accordingly. He used the metaphor, “The tree with fruits is the one that bends,” to suggest that those in prominent positions must exhibit greater patience and understanding. Sharma concluded by stating that maintaining the House is a shared responsibility, not just of the ruling party, but of all 200 MLAs.

The Chief Minister advised both the ruling party and opposition to be mindful of the public’s perception of their representatives. He emphasised that if any member makes a wrong statement, they should reflect on it, as it would weigh on their conscience. He urged that every word spoken in the assembly should be carefully considered, as words can have a significant impact and should be chosen thoughtfully.

“The opposition is our strength,” the Chief Minister said.

“The entire incident happened in two or two and a half minutes that day. We did not get time, and everything happened.”

He also mentioned that if any of the opposition MLAs speaks well, he congratulates them.

“I had also called the Leader of the Opposition to tell him that you spoke well. We have to learn to call wrong, wrong.”

Will Ask Dotasra To Improve His Conduct: Devnani

On the whole episode, Devnani said that the incident was very serious and worrisome.

“I have never heard such words in my parliamentary life,” he stated.

He added that after the episode, he himself had been in touch with the Chief Minister and opposition leaders regarding the deadlock. He also said that if both parties form a committee, he had no problem cooperating. Devnani stated that the member, for whose words the Leader of Opposition has expressed regret, will also be asked to improve his conduct.

“We will ensure his conduct and discipline in the future. These comments are not forgivable, but trusting you, I say that this should not happen again so that the House runs smoothly.”

Chief Whip Brings Proposal To Reinstate Suspension

Government Chief Whip Jogeshwar Garg advised that while fierce opposition is acceptable, there should always be room for reconciliation. He then proposed the withdrawal of the suspension of six Congress MLAs, including Dotasra. The proposal was approved, and following the end of the suspensions, the Leader of Opposition began his speech on the budget.